Hall of Fame Announces "Old Timers" Ballot

[clydepepper]

McGwire hit 49 homers as a rookie and I believe those were legit.

He had a great swing, but not the 16-inch forearms that were such red flag later on.

He was, however, very much a 'one-trick pony' as apposed to a five-tool player and the obvious years where he did cheat constitute the only portion of his career that compares favorably to that first year.
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[packs]

Well let's not forget who was on that team his first season: Jose Canseco.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

McGwire hit 49 homers as a rookie and I believe those were legit.

He had a great swing, but not the 16-inch forearms that were such red flag later on.

He was, however, very much a 'one-trick pony' as apposed to a five-tool player and the obvious years where he did cheat constitute the only portion of his career that compares favorably to that first year.
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I believe McGwire was on steroids when he was at USC when he led the nation and set the school record with 32 HR his last year there. 49 HRs as a rookie was as much out of place as his 70 HRs in 1998. Unlike Bonds who was skinny with the Pirates, McGwire was always big.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by rats60

I believe McGwire was on steroids when he was at USC when he led the nation and set the school record with 32 HR his last year there. 49 HRs as a rookie was as much out of place as his 70 HRs in 1998. Unlike Bonds who was skinny with the Pirates, McGwire was always big.

There will always be asterisks around certain records.

[esd10]

Most of these players and executives have no place in the hof let alone on the ballot where the immortals of Americas past time are inshrined.

[packs]

I still don't understand how the HOF could put someone like Yawkey in and then Steinbrenner is met with criticism of his personality.

[ejharrington]

McGuire needs to be in. He is a legend.

[Louieman]

I think it's reasonable to say that not everyone who is currently in the hall of fame deserved it by the standards we have for hall of famers today. But instead of punishing them, I think we should just keep that standard from this point forward and not use past mistakes or past judgments of hall of famers as a litmus test for today's players